End of Civil Rights (1965-75) Flashcards
What were the major riots in the 1960s?
- New York City - July 1964
- LA - August 1965
- Chicago & Cleveland - 1966
- Newark & Detroit - 1967
Summer was when ghetto conditions were at their worst, and the heat made tempers short.
Why were there so many riots?
- Police discrimination - police were more concerned with harassing young black men than keeping the ghettos safe.
- White officials’ discrimination - city officials failed to respond to complaints about issues.
- People living in ghettos were likely to be unemployed and workers mostly had unskilled, low-paid jobs. This meant poverty was rife.
- Education was poor, schools were run down.
What was the general pattern of riots?
- Trigger incident (usually involving the police)
- Minor attacks on property
- Increasing violence and looting
- State troops brought in to stop violence. Promises of reform are made and calm is restored.
What was the Kerner Report?
In July 1967, President Johnson set up in an enquiry into the riots which was reported in the Kerner Report (1968).
What did the Kerner Report “report”?
- Riots were a result of ghetto conditions produced by segregation and discrimination
- Riots came after white officials failed to fix identified problems
- White officials should listen to what the community wants
- Police should provide more protection and change their unfair, brutal treatment
- The media almost always exaggerated the damage and the number of casualties.
What was the SCLC’s campaign in the North?
- James Bevel from the SCLC helped organise tenants’ associations to fight segregated housing and unfiar rent
- Jesse Jackson (SCLC) organised “Operation Breadbasket”: boycotts to pressurise white businesses to employ more black people.
- January 1966 - SCLC announced plans for a Chicago Freedom Movement, MLK went to Chicago.
- King called meetings and arranged demonstrations. There was some support but heavy political opposition
- The SCLC found it hard to connect with ghetto gangs and peaceful protests were fairly ineffective
Was SCLC’s campaign a success?
King spoke as the campaign as a success: there had been peaceful demonstrations and there was an agreement.
Operation Breadbasket was successful as it helped white people find jons in white owned businesses and became a key protest organisation in Chicago.
Why did SCLC’s campaign fail?
- There was violence on both sides and King was unable to stop the riot that broke out before the marches
- Chicago’s mayor, Daley, ignored the agreement he made with the Chicago Freedom Movement
- Chicago Real Estate housing policies didn’t change.
- The CCCO struggled to maintain pressure on mayor Daley once King and the SCLC left
- The government did not pursue change. Relations between King and LBJ were poor as King openly opposed the Vietnam War
What was the CCCO?
the Coordinating Council of Community Organisations of Chicago
When was MLK assassinated?
4 April 1968
What happened directly after King’s death?
- There were 172 riots across the USA. By 9 April, 32 black people had died
- The “Poor People’s Campaign” planned by King went ahead as poor people marched in Washington but failed
- The 1968 Civil Rights Act was passed
Why did white support decrease after King’s death?
National Civil Rights groups had been losing membership, funding and support from white people since 1965, which increased after King’s death.
After the Civil Rights and Voter Registration Acts were passed, many white people saw the battle as won. The northern riots also saw a drop in white support.
Why else happened after King’s death?
Many black Americans became more radical. In 1969, SNNC changed the N in it’s name from “non-violent” to “national”.
As a result lf this they lost almost all their original members. Black radicalisation, coupled with white opposition, worsened the fight for civil rights.
What progress was made from 1969-75?
Local protests still addressed issues such as desegregation and employment inequality.
Organisations such as the Black Panthers held national protests about what they considered wrongful improsinment of their members.
However, the major issue by this point was the American involvement in Vietnam. Many blacks were angry that civil rights had not been solved and that they were still forced to fight.
What changes did Nixon make?
- Set up funding & training dor businesses in black neighbourhoods
- Gave tax breaks to white owned businesses that set up in black neighbourhoods
- Pressed for “affirmative action” - deliberately choosing to employ blacks to achieve equality
- Introduced more black officials into the White House
